Coin-freed electric meter.



No. 648,335 Patented Apr. 24,1900. F. J. BEAUMONT.

COIN FREED ELECTRIC METER.

' (Application filed Jan. 15, 1900) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 648,335. Patented Apr. 24, I900.

F. J. BEAUMONT. COIN FREED ELECTRIC METER.

' (Application filed Jan. 15, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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NIED TATES ATENT tracts.

FREDERICK JOHN BEAUMONT, OF LONDON ENGLAND.

CO'IN-FREED ELECTRlC METER.

PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,335, dated April 24,1900.

Application filed January 15, 1900. Serial No. 1,576. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK JOHN BEAU- MONT, asubject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at 21 Albany road, Stroud Green, London,countyof Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coin-Freed Electricity-Meters, of which the following isa specification.

This invention has for its object certain im provements in and connectedwith coin-freed electricitymeters.

For the purpose of this invention I employ an electric current whichafter passing through a meter passes through an electromagnet orsolenoid and attracts an armature or iron core, this attraction beingcontrolled by a spring or balanced arm and varies the compression of anumber of blocks of carbon or moves a contact over different points andinserts different resistances, according to the number of lamps incircuit, and applicable for coin-freed meters.

My invention is shown on the annexed drawings.

Figure l is a plan of operative parts ofa coinfreed electrical meter.Fig. 2 is aback end elevation. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the electricalappliances while the main current is in circuit. Fig. 4 is a diagram ofelectrical appliances with carbon blocks in circuit, such as when thelights are dimming and the value of the inserted coin is being spent.

A is the casing of a meter of any known construction.

B is a notched wheel in which each coin is lodged and utilized formoving the notched wheel around when the handle 0 is turned.

D is an operating-spindle, and E a screwthread on the same.

F is a pinion in gear with the screw-thread, said pinion F being on asliding bar G, by which the controlling appliances are actuated.

H is a second screw-threaded spindle, the

screw I of which is also geared into by the pinion F, the spindle Hbeing in connection by pinion J for return operation by the metermechanism. K is a rod jointed to the sliding bar G and also with toothedquadrant-rack L, which in turn is in gear with pinion M.

N is an inner toothed quadrant secured on the spindle of pinion M and isin gear with pinion P of a vibratory contact-arm Q, this having one ofthe main-circuit wires R affixed, the su pporting-plate Shaving theother maincircuit wire T affixed. The vibratory contact-arm Q isavailable for moving over and in touch with the contact-piece V andremains in contact proportionately to the nu 1nber of coins insertedinto the meter-casing, each coin so inserted demanding a separate actionon the handle 0, according to the quantity of current to be delivered inexchange for the amount thus paid in advance.

The action of the meter rotates the pinion J and this causes thescrew-spindle I to rotate also, and this by being in gear with thepinion F by its rotation moves back the bar Gr and bar K.

It will be understood that there is no motion of the screw F. except byhand when the handle O is turned.

During the working action of the meterthe arm Q is gradually slid backupon the contactpiece V, and just as its end is leaving the piece V anear IV rides upon the contact-piece X, which is in connection by wire Zwith carbonblock resistances a,superposed and controlled by the balancedbeam-lever b. The carbon blocks a are preferably of the spongy kind,capable of certain amount of compression to govern the degree ofresistance to be inserted in the circuit. The other end of the beamleverZ) has connected to it the iron core 0 of the solenoid d, the windingsof which are connected, respectively, with the main-circuit wire T andofthe top plate S, as indicated.

The diagrams Figs. 3 and at indicate the respective positions of on andoff, the main circuit being shown closed in Fig. 8 and the shunt-circuitclosed in Fig. 4: by the ear W of the sliding arm Q being in touch withp the resistance-contact X.

As indicating a method by which my invention can be carried out I haveshown a beamlever arrangement. After inserting a coin the mechanicalparts comprised by the screws and pinions and rods are pulled over, andthe end of this lever Q pushes the switch relatively into the positionshown in the diagram Fig. 3, in which it will be seen that said switchis in electrical contact with the terminal and the current maynninterruptedly flow to the main circuit and will continue to do sountil the rotation of the worm I by the action of the electrical meterwith which it is mechanically connected has, returned the lever Q toallow the switch to move gradually back to its original position as thelight is being used. This will continue till such time as the value hasbeen given for the money, when the switch will be moved to the positionindicated by diagram Fig. 4:, where it will be seen that the said switchis no longer in contact with the terminal, but is in electricalconnection with the resistanceterminal, from which it follows that asthe current must flow through the resistance a reduction of the lightwill take place and give warning that if more light is'required anothercoin orcoins must be inserted. It, on the other hand, no coins areinserted, the switch will move to its original position (shown inFig. 1) and the light will go out by reason of the circuit being opened.

A fixed resistance would be objectionable for the purposes of thisinvention, since the number of lamps in circuit is subject to a constantvariation, and if the resistance is invariably the same the dimming ofthe light will vary and may even produce such a reduction in the currentas to cause a practical extinguishment of the lamps. It is desirable toavoid this, and by the insertion of a variable resistance, which will becut in according to the number of lamps that are in circuit, the dimmingeffect will be substantially the same in all cases. For example, if onlyone lamp should be burning the solenoid-coil would only get half anampere, while with twenty lamps in circuit it would get ten amperes. Thecore being attracted proportionately would move the beam-lever b and cutin such a part of the whole series of resistances as corresponded withthe difference.

The carbon-block resistances are shown in Fig. 3, and in Fig. i I haveindicated COllVClb tionally a series of coils of wire of the usual kind,both forms of variable resistance being well known.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent, is-

1. In an electric meter, the combination with a metering mechanism andlamp-circuit, of a controlling-switch to cut off the supply, a solenoidhaving its coil connected through said switch in the lamp-circuit, alever connected to the solenoid-core and having a contact, a series ofresistances swept by said contact,and a resistance-contact in the pathof the switch and connected to the series of re sistances, and ashunt-circuit including one or more of the latter, theresistance-contact and the coil of the solenoid, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an electric meter, the combination with a metering mechanism andlam p-circuit, of a pivoted switch-arm connected in said circuit, meansfor moving said arm by the action of the metering mechanism, a solenoid,a beam-lever connected at one end to the core of the solenoid, a seriesof resistances in the path of a contact on the other end of said lever,a resistance-coutact in the path of a lip on the switch-arm, ashunt-circuit including the resistancecontact, the series ofresistances, the contact on the end of the beamlever and thesolenoid-coil, and means for moving said switch-arm by the action of themetering mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK JOHN lilhlL'MON'l.

\Vitn esses:

WM. 0. BROWN, EDMUND S. SNEWIN.

